Kizzy was a diddakoi, a half-gypsy, but the more the children at school tormented her, the more determined she was not to become one of 'them' - gorgios. And as long as she had her Gran, and Joe the old horse, she would be all right. But then Gran died and faithful old Joe was sent to the knackers - and Kizzy to the gorgios. Luckily, in the midst of all this misery and interference, there were some people who loved Kizzy as she was - and with them this lonely little outcast found a true home at last.

Read by Lynda Bellingham.

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Listener Opinions

Zen Cho | 2/12/2014

" See review of Peacock Spring for critique. I did find this enormously satisfying in a lot of ways. I was tremendously invested in the characters, and I liked how Kizzy's trauma and recovery were depicted -- reminded me a lot of Goodnight Mr Tom. I would have loved the book and reread it millions of times as a child, but I'm not really sure about this message in the end that being taken in by Nice White People and having them graciously preserve your ~beautiful culture~ is the answer. Sigh ... it just doesn't seem right. "

Shell | 2/7/2014

" Had forgotten all about this. Loved it at the time. "

Lindi | 1/28/2014

" The most interesting thing about this book is that there adults who know that bullying is going on but wait to see if the kids sort it out themselves. This would never happen in a book written today. "

Leonie | 1/25/2014

" I am always fascinated with anything to do with gypsies and would love to have read this as a child. I did enjoy it as a grown up but wished for a fleshing out of certain characters such as the Admiral and his household of men. I'd also loved to have had Miss Brooke's back story. The idea of the old ways and the new ways even within the Romany group themselves was also intriguing. I want to run out and read some grown up books about gypsy life now. "

Hirosasazaki Sasazaki | 1/17/2014

" I was surprised Godden has the observer's eye to describe people around this story. Also, it's interesting to know old days England. "

Charlotte Brandon | 1/12/2014

" i love this book :) "

Jayme | 1/12/2014

" This book puts a different point of view on segregation. It shows how kids learn from their parents, and society, and that effects how they treat others. "

Susann | 1/11/2014

" Bought at Powell's. "

Catherine | 12/25/2013

" this was not the best book in the world. "

Kari | 12/16/2013

" One of those I remembered ever since Mom read it to me years ago...but just like those others, I didn't remember the story, just a few life lessons "

Yorky Caz | 12/4/2013

" I love this book - re-read it a dozen times and still will probably go back for another read one day. Sweet story of a orphaned girl who finds a happy ending "

Barbara | 10/25/2013

" I thought this was a wonderful story about prejudice and love. I have really enjoyed Rumer Godden's books and hope to read more. "

Rebecca | 10/24/2013

" Twas preachy. But, I read and re-read under the apple tree until it fell apart. "

penelopewanders | 9/23/2013

" I've just read this to see if it's something to do with my planned class which will have Rom as the theme... not sure my teenagers will be able to get past the sickly sweet cover image, but the story itself is very moving. Interesting approach to exclusion and integration. "

Freefallen ~ YA Reviewer | 7/28/2013

" I would read this book all the time. It's beautiful, lyrical, and totally heartwarming. I reccomend this to anybody. A must have for every bookshelf that has a heart. ;) "

Claire | 7/7/2013

" I read this book thinking it was one I read and enjoyed as a child, sadly it was a different book by I enjoyed it still! "

Robert Day | 6/13/2013

" Lovely children's book. I remember seeing this as "Kizzy' on the TV when I was a child. Years later this book is a poignant reminder of those days. "

Cindy | 5/26/2013

" What a grand little story. Loved how they all learned something. "

Amanda | 5/17/2013

" Was a young girl (preteen?) when I read this and really loved it. Made me wish I had a tiny, perfect caravan and a pony to pull it. Wished I was exotic. Was not exotic but in books could experience lives unlike mine. I love reading! "

Carla | 4/9/2013

" This was one of my favourite books from childhood, and the first I ever read by Rumer Godden. "

Iris | 2/28/2013

" Mijn lievelingsboek! "

Cheryl in CC NV | 12/23/2012

" A melodramatic fantasy, really. Everything's neat & pat, and rather implausible. And the themes are not subtle. A joyful read for a good young reader; I would have loved it when I was seven or eight. But it's just not all that good a book. Sorry. "

Kelly | 10/14/2012

" Rumer Godden is one of my favorite authors. I discovered this book when I was in grade school. It goes with my love of the gypsy/carnie theme that I had going on for years. "

Loripdx | 7/9/2012

" I read this book when I was a young girl and was throughly captivated by the story of the gypsy girl and her life. When I was an adult, I managed to find the book through Powell's used books and now have a copy of the edition I read back in the 1970s (when it was still a "new" book!). Excellent! "

Kerry | 6/29/2012

" absolute delight "

Linda | 6/10/2012

" After losing her gran, Kizzy must move into new homes and attend school. Here, she is bullied and shunned. Language may be a bit dated, but a short study on prejudice, bullying, gender roles. "

Deb | 1/21/2012

" Picked this of the shelf as I was shelving books yesterday...a quick little satisfying read. "

Rebekah | 1/16/2012

" A heart-warming story of an orphaned gypsy girl who learns to cope with cruelty and accept kindness. "

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